"And for any victim of a violent crime, when you actually get to go in and realize and see their faces and know that they can't hurt you any more, there is no feeling like that. It finally frees you from a lot of demons"

The words of Patty Hearst speak profoundly to the emotional journey faced by survivors of violent crimes. Encountering those who have caused so much pain is an experience few can truly understand unless they've endured such trauma themselves. There is a unique and powerful liberation that emerges from confronting one's assailants, physically witnessing the individuals responsible and understanding, on a visceral level, that their power is no longer absolute. The ability to see their faces in a controlled environment, under the protection of the justice system, changes the dynamic from one of helplessness and fear to one of empowerment. The terror they once inspired is diminished by the recognition that the threat has been neutralized, removing the aura of invincibility the perpetrators once held over their victims.

This confrontation can dissolve the lingering psychological shackles, the "demons", that haunt many survivors. The act becomes a personal milestone in reclaiming agency, where the survivor transitions from being defined by fear to regaining control over their narrative and sense of self. The emotional and mental liberation results not merely from the realization that physical harm is no longer possible, but also from the symbolic closure it provides. This newfound freedom allows healing to begin in earnest, creating space to process pain and rebuild life beyond the trauma.

Witnessing the perpetrators often exposes their humanity, stripping away the monstrous image the mind may have built. Survivors can see them for what they are: flawed, and now powerless. This diminishment of the assailant’s power is essential for moving forward. Ultimately, the encounter is not about revenge, but about confronting a painful past and emerging unshackled. It is an intensely personal moment of catharsis that can open the door to forgiveness, if not for the perpetrator, then for oneself, for having survived, endured, and now, finally, being able to move beyond the shadows.